Best institutions to study Rehabilitation Aide
A program that prepares individuals to assist in rehabilitation services under the supervision of occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other therapeutic professionals, and to perform routine functions in support of rehabilitation.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 167 Rehabilitation Aide students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2604, a specialization of Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26), and leads most directly to the Physical Therapist Aides occupation (BLS SOC 31-2022).
About Rehabilitation Aide programs
A program that prepares individuals to assist in rehabilitation services under the supervision of occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other therapeutic professionals, and to perform routine functions in support of rehabilitation. Includes instruction in roles and responsibilities of rehabilitation providers, basic function of the human body, disabling conditions, therapeutic skills, client management, and communication skills.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Rehabilitation Aide program prepares individuals to assist in rehabilitation services under the supervision of healthcare professionals such as occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. This program is ideal for those interested in supporting patients in their recovery and rehabilitation journeys while performing routine functions that aid therapeutic processes.
Students will gain knowledge in the roles and responsibilities of rehabilitation providers, the basic functions of the human body, disabling conditions, and essential therapeutic skills. Coursework also emphasizes client management and effective communication skills necessary for working in healthcare settings.
Credentials awarded
What Rehabilitation Aide graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year136 graduates / yr · 7 institutions81%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years27 graduates / yr · 2 institutions16%
- Award of less than 12 weeks4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.4%
Graduates over time
Rehabilitation Aide completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 302 |
| 2013 | 169 |
| 2014 | 173 |
| 2015 | 178 |
| 2016 | 314 |
| 2017 | 197 |
| 2018 | 219 |
| 2019 | 163 |
| 2020 | 126 |
| 2021 | 121 |
| 2022 | 157 |
| 2023 | 179 |
| 2024 | 158 |
| 2025 | 167 |
Top 10 institutions for Rehabilitation Aide, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 61 | 81% | — | — |
| 2 | Moore Norman Technology Center Norman, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 91% | — | — |
| 3 | The College of Health Care Professions - Southwest Houston Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 69% | $29,145 | — |
| 4 | Canadian Valley Technology Center El Reno, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 71% | — | — |
| 5 | Carrington College - Tucson Tucson, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 66% | $41,198 | $26,105 |
| 6 | Gordon Cooper Technology Center Shawnee, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 90% | — | — |
| 7 | Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 4 | 45% | — | — |
| 8 | Southwest Technology Center Altus, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 78% | — | — |
| 9 | Carrington College - Mesa Mesa, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 54% | $48,051 | $26,105 |
| 10 | Northwest Technology Center - Alva Alva, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 77% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies field (CIP 51.26) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 4 states
Where Rehabilitation Aide graduates come from. Each state links to all Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 6 | 123 | Tulsa Technology Center61 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 26 | The College of Health Care Professions - Southwest Houston26 / yr |
| Arizona | 2 | 14 | Carrington College - Tucson13 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 4 | Cowley County Community College4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-2022, Physical Therapist Aides, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Rehabilitation Aide program can pursue careers as Physical Therapist Aides, Occupational Therapy Aides, and other healthcare support roles. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth of 2.8% and approximately 6,600 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $34,520, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2604
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Therapist Aidesprimary SOC 31-2022 | $35,240 | +2.8% About as fast as average | ~6,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other SOC 31-9099 | $48,430 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~14,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupational Therapy Aides SOC 31-2012 | $39,160 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Rehabilitation Aide programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
Tools and technology used
Other Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26).
- Home Health Aide/CIP 51.2602
Home Attendant 4,307 graduates / yr51 institutions - Medication AideCIP 51.2603780 graduates / yr31 institutions
- Health AideCIP 51.2601368 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Health Aides/CIP 51.2699
Attendants/ Orderlies partial data39 graduates / yr4 institutions - Physical Therapy Technician/CIP 51.2605
Aide limited data28 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What is a Rehabilitation Aide?+
A Rehabilitation Aide assists in rehabilitation services under the supervision of healthcare professionals.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn therapeutic skills, client management, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a Physical Therapist Aide or Occupational Therapy Aide, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.8% and 6,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Rehabilitation Aide?+
Rehabilitation Aide is CIP 51.2604 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to assist in rehabilitation services under the supervision of occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other therapeutic professionals, and to perform routine functions in support of rehabilitation. Includes instruction in roles and responsibilities of rehabilitation providers, basic function of the human body, disabling conditions, therapeutic skills, client management, and communication skills.
How many institutions offer Rehabilitation Aide programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Rehabilitation Aide graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 167 credentials in the year. That is 2.9% of all Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates.
How much do Rehabilitation Aide graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Physical Therapist Aides occupation, which Rehabilitation Aide most directly leads to, pays a median of $35,240 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies field report median earnings of $26,105 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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